Why Black Friday doorbuster deals may not equate to savings

Black Friday is just around the corner, and across the Web much chatter has begun about this year’s big sales. One of the attractive luring tactics businesses are using to convince people to hit the stores rather than spend the holiday at home are “doorbuster deals.” If you aren’t familiar with the term, these are deals the retailer will offer to the public that are often described as deeply discounted prices with a limited supply.

But are these really a good reason to get out and fight the crowds on Thanksgiving Day or in the dawn hours of Black Friday? Possibly not. And here’s why:

Keeps you spending money

Retailers are swift, while the doorbuster promotion may be the carrot to get people in the door, that is likely not the true goal. Stores, such as Walmart, spread out their doorbuster deals to occur at different times of the day on Black Friday. And what do people do as they wait for the next super deal? They peruse the aisles and probably buy more items. Chances are many people end up buying items they originally had no intention of purchasing—or things they never would have thought of putting in their carts.

Potential lower quality

While some of the prices are phenomenal, if you’re looking for high-end quality, chances are you won’t find it with doorbuster sales. While some deals may be the coveted items, many of the alluring deep discounts won’t be the popular brands. According to Howard Schaffer, vice president of Offers.com, many doorbusters are not going to be high-quality brands, but an inferior product, reported Albany Times Union.

Better deals online

In order to score one of the more desirable doorbusters, you’ll have to be up and out early for Black Friday sales. But is it really worth losing sleep and pushing through crowds? Additionally, depending on how the retailer conducts the specials, you might find yourself standing on long lines in hopes of getting the item.

Especially when many great deals on a variety of items can be found online throughout the day and on Cyber Monday. If leaving before dawn and being stuck standing in large groups of inpatient people is not your cup of tea, skip the doorbusters, and stay home and shop in your PJs.

Items might be cheaper on other days

Black Friday advertisements are full of hype, but are they truly the best deals? According to an analysis done last year by the Wall Street Journal and Decide Inc., a pricing research firm, many doorbuster items, at least one-third, are typically available at even lower prices at other times of the year.

Considering that these days many consumers are not out holiday shopping, but instead seeking to purchase big-ticket items for their own homes, it might just be worth it to wait until after the holidays. However, many doorbusters are the true deal. It’s a good idea to know your prices well, follow trends and don’t rely on advertising. Unfortunately, fake deals on Black Friday are commonly used as a marketing ploy.

An all-day event

Years ago Black Friday was for the early birds and typically sales lasted until mid-morning. Today it’s morphed into an all day event that takes away from family time. In addition, many stores have decided to continue with the “Thanksgiving creep” trend. Sales no longer start on Black Friday, instead they’ll be opening their doors earlier on Thanksgiving Day, a traditional family holiday.

While this has nothing to do with money per se, are the doorbusters and
other sales really worth taking time away from loved ones on a holiday
that has traditionally been centered around family and friends?